Sir Ian Wood has donated £40m from his family charity, The Wood Foundation, toward accelerating economic diversification and energy transition across north east Scotland.

The not-for-profit and private sector-led organisations Opportunity North East (ONE) and Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), both chaired by Wood, will get £20m each to create more jobs and economic opportunities across the region.

The announcement was made as First Minister John Swinney met with Wood and the chief executives of ONE and ETZ, Jennifer Craw and Maggie McGinlay, in Aberdeen.

Swinney confirmed the Scottish Government will match The Wood Foundation’s £40m contribution over the course of the next parliamentary term in a multi-year funding agreement, should it be re-elected following next May’s election.

Leader of

See Full Page